Spin Right Round Baby

So today I really began trying to spin on my spindle. While I was given a brief hands on introduction at the fiberfest, I decided that I needed to watch a few more people to get a good idea. So I surfed the YouTube channels until I found a tutorial on basic spinning that looked like it would actually explain the process. After watching the short video three or for times I got to work.

Now I know that because I am new at this I am not going to immediately get the results that I want. I really only can hope for an approximation of what I am aiming for at this point. Getting the hang of how much to spin and then let draft up the fiber takes a bit of fiddling with, but I think I did alright for my first try.

Spin Baby Spin

There are a few sections that ended up being slightly thicker than the rest, but over all I think I was fairly consistent. We’ll see if that is the case when I take it off the spindle.

I do have to say that wool is really fuzzy when you spin it up. I’m not sure if it’s because I am a beginning spinner or if it is just the way wool is. I can see where the idea that wool can be scratchy comes from-even though the wool I am working with is pretty soft.

There is an unexpected side affect to my spinning. Henry becomes an instant lap kitty. I fear that Wool maybe his catnip. Watching him try to get into the ziplock bag that I had stashed the fiber in and then attack the wool on my spindle  was cute for the first minute or so. I have never seen him react that way to anything. He wrestled the bag to the ground! And if there are little bits of wool laying around he tries to eat it. It may just be the wool I am using, it may not. I am actually kind of afraid when I start spinning the bamboo.

Blooming Wool!

I have been working on hook type things as well. I’m rather proud of a piece of jewelry I made on Saturday last week.  I’ve seen a lot of Irish Roses on jewelry and such and wanted to try my own take on it. I managed the entire things over the course of 2-3 hours while a storm raged outside.  Of course it would have taken me less time the roof not sprung a leak, and Henry wasn’t going bonkers.

Pretty as Rose

I am however not completely happy with how it clasps so I am still fiddling with the over all design. I used double stranded crochet thread (two different colors) and a 2.75 mm steel hook.